Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Indhu Rubasingham Unveils National Theatre’s Global-Focused 2027 Programme
Indhu Rubasingham announced what the National Theatre plans to show in 2027.
The season will include eight brand-new plays.
It will also feature musicals, family shows, touring productions and older plays presented in new ways.
Many of the stories come from different countries and cultures.
Some shows will explore politics, family, conflict, truth and peace.
The Jungle Book will be shown online for free around the world for one week in March 2027.
People will be able to watch it with captions in several languages.
The National Theatre says the programme is meant to connect audiences in Britain and elsewhere.
Indhu Rubasingham announced the National Theatre’s 2027 season, featuring eight world-premiere new plays alongside revivals and adaptations.
The programme includes global stories such as Samira, Adeyemi – A Family Saga, Mr Loverman and The Great Indaba.
New productions include the musical Glorious Madness, the political drama Major and immersive theatre from Punchdrunk.
Reimagined classics include West Side Story, Suddenly Last Summer, Plenty, Death of a Salesman and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
The Jungle Book will be streamed worldwide for free for one week in March 2027, with captions in Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish and Tamil.
- Who
- Indhu Rubasingham, the National Theatre’s artistic director and co-chief executive, announced the programme.
- What
- The National Theatre revealed its 2027 lineup of new plays, musicals, classics, family productions and touring work.
- When
- The programme was announced on Wednesday the 9th; the season is for 2027, with The Jungle Book streamed for one week in March 2027.
- Where
- The announcement took place in the Cottesloe Room at the Dorfman Theatre, and the productions will be presented at the National Theatre and elsewhere.
- Why
- The programme aims to examine the last century and bring international stories, cultures and perspectives to audiences.
- Artistic director
- Indhu Rubasingham, in her second year leading the National Theatre
- New plays
- Eight new plays will receive world premieres at the National Theatre
- Free online production
- The Jungle Book will be available worldwide for free for one week in March 2027
- Online captions
- The Jungle Book stream will be captioned in Arabic, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish and Tamil
- New musical
- Glorious Madness features songs by Joan Armatrading, with a book by Iman Qureshi
- Political drama
- Major by James Graham examines John Major’s succession to Margaret Thatcher
- International focus
- The programme includes stories connected to the Arab Spring, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Antigua and London